State takes Rohtang tunnel issue with Centre

Shimla, July 6: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be approached to expedite construction of the Rohtang Tunnel.

Mr Singh was addressing a public meeting at Sissu in Lahaul Sub-Division of Lahaul and Spiti district on the first day of his two-day long visit to the valley beginning yesterday.

He also stressed upon the need to undertake execution of identified mini and micro-hydel projects in the rural areas.

Mr Singh laid the foundation stone of PHC building estimated to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 47 lac and also inaugurated Chandra Valley Micro Hydel Project office at Sissu. The Chief Minister said that Late Smt. Indira Gandhi on her visit to Lahaul Valley had acceded to the request of local people to construct a motorable tunnel below Rohtang Pass to connect the valley all round the year and the planning had started during her tenure.

He said the people of the state were indebted to Dr Manmohan Singh who acceded to the request of the delegation of the valley headed by Smt Pratibha Singh, MP and sanctioned Rs 1355 crore as first instalment for the construction of the tunnel.

Mr Singh said that Tribal Development was a priority on the agenda of his government and added attention was being paid towards its developmental needs. He said his government had carved out a separate Tribal Sub-Plan by earmarking funds for the development of tribal areas. It had ensured speedy and focused development of these areas to bring them at par with rest of the state, he said, adding that despite limited working season, rapid strides were being made in the development in these areas.

The Chief Minister lauded the endeavour of the local people to form their own Cooperative societies for harnessing the available identified hydel potential. He said his Government had earmarked micro hydel projects up to 2 MW exclusively for the local people, Cooperative Societies and joint ventures while locals were being given added preference in hydel generation upto 5 MW.

He also said that young entrepreneurs of the state would take inspiration from Chandra Valley Micro Hydel Project Society and come forward to execute all such identified projects.

Some of the major roads in tribal areas, he said a were being constructed by the Border Road Organization and the matter would be raised at appropriate level to direct the local authorities to speed up the road construction besides, maintaining and improving existing road infrastructure for ensuring smooth vehicular movement during working season. He said that the State PWD was also cooperating the BRO for speedy construction of roads.

Mr Singh said that Lahaul Valley had vast hydel-potential for exploitation where a number of mini and micro hydel projects were viable for execution. He said that local youth should come forward, form Cooperative Societies, joint ventures and become partners in the progress of the State so that identified hydel potential was exploited to the optimum to generate income for the State besides meeting the local power requirements.

UNI